Two of Lisa Knoefel’s close friends testified June 3 that the 41-year-old social worker’s husband was acting odd after his wife was murdered.
Kevin Knoefel, 43, of Willoughby Hills, is accused of convincing his foster daughter and alleged lover, Sabrina Zunich, to stab Lisa to death as she slept on Nov. 16, 2012.
Erika Gaiter, the victim’s boss in the sex crimes unit at Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services, testified she found it inappropriate that a photo of Zunich was hanging on the refrigerator at the defendant’s mother’s home during Lisa’s calling hours.
“Why did you find it inappropriate?” defense attorney Michael J. Connick asked.
“Because she murdered Lisa,” Gaiter responded on the second day of Knoefel’s conspiracy trial in Lake County Common Pleas Court.
At the house after she stopped by with food, Gaiter said Knoefel appeared completely normal.
“I assumed he would appear sorrowful or upset, some type of emotion to Lisa being murdered,” Gaiter said.
After she herself heard about her friend’s death, Gaiter testified, “I cried. I was devastated, shocked. The worst day ever. We were close. It wasn’t just a job.”
At the funeral, Lisa’s supervisor added that Knoefel appeared “emotionless” and that she was “appalled” about inappropriate comments he made there.
Judge Joe Gibson did not allow Gaiter to tell the jury of five women and seven men what those comments might have been.
Connick confronted Gaiter several times during her testimony.
“You have no right to judge whether he was grieving for his wife, do you?” he asked.
Prosecuting attorney Karen Kowall objected repeatedly to Connick’s line of questioning. The defense attorney implied Gaiter was being coached by the state to convict Knoefel.
He also asked Gaiter if she knew Lisa was being treated for bipolar disorder.
“Totally disregard the last question that was asked,” Gibson ordered the jury.
Kaleen Lessmann, another co-worker, said Lisa was her best friend. She served as maid of honor when the Knoefels married in 2006.
At the defendant’s mother’s home the day after Lisa died, Lessmann testified Knoefel was discussing the victim’s pension money with her and one other person.
“He said, ‘50 thousand is a lot to make up,’ ” regarding his wife’s salary, said Lessmann. “I was surprised and stunned.”
Lessmann also told prosecuting attorney Lisa Neroda that Knoefel asked people to pray for Zunich, who was caught at the scene holding a bloody knife.
Dr. Joseph Felo, forensic pathologist with the Cuyahoga County Medial Examiners Office, testified the victim was stabbed 187 times at least.
“This is the most number of stab wounds that I’ve ever seen in my almost 17 years of pathology,” he said.
Under cross-examination, Felo said nothing forensic implicates Knoefel in the killing.
After the autopsy testimony, a slew of insurance and pension experts took the stand. Prosecutors said Knoefel inherited $785,000 from his wife.
Frank Zingale, an agent with Farmers Insurance, testified Knoefel bought additional insurance from him after the murder.
Knoefel added a 2013 Malibu to his auto policy and a $5,000 camper. He also traded in his 2009 Kia for a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze and exchanged a second camper for a 2013 camper worth about $30,000. In addition, Knoefel added a fence to his backyard pool, Zingale said.
The defense team is arguing 19-year-old Zunich, who has not been indicted for anything, acted alone and is lying about Knoefel to try and get a lighter sentence.
Testimony in the case is expected to continue June 4.